Scotland beware as South Africa pick seven-one bench split

South Africa will begin their autumn with a gargantuan team featuring seven forwards on the bench to face Scotland, with the hosts handing Tom Jordan a maiden start at full-back.

This is the fourth time that Rassie Erasmus has picked a seven-one split on the bench, following the Springboks’ heaviest-ever victory over the All Blacks last August, their loss to Ireland in the pool stages of the World Cup and the final of that tournament, also against New Zealand.

Erasmus noted the tight nature of the World Cup pool match against Scotland last year and anticipates an “epic battle” in Edinburgh on Sunday.

Eben Etzebeth captains the starting side on his record-extending 129th cap, and will be backed up by a formidable bench. Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Koch, RG Snyman, Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese form an imposing ‘bomb squad’ at Murrayfield.

Grant Williams, capable of covering scrum-half and wing, is the sole back among the replacements. Kwagga Smith, the sevens veteran winning a 50th cap, is starting at No 8 and has previously been earmarked as an emergency centre, while Erasmus is also counting on the versatility of starting backs.

Jaden Hendrikse and Handre Pollard form the starting half-back partnership with André Estzerhuizen and Lukhanyo Am in midfield and Makazole Mapimpi, Willie Le Roux and Canaan Moodie in the back three.

Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi and Thomas du Toit form the front row with Etzebeth and Franco Mostert at lock and Smith joined by Elrigh Louw and Marco van Staden in the back row.

Recent Springbok backline regulars Cobus Reinach, Manie Libbok, Damian de Allende, Jesse Kriel, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Aphelele Fassi and Cheslin Kolbe have all been left out with a six-day turnaround before the England match at Twickenham.

Jordan, a replacement against Fiji last week, is given a first Scotland start at full-back. Blair Kinghorn, returning from club duty with Toulouse, is on the right wing in a backline that also features Ben White and Finn Russell.

Gregor Townsend has opted for a six-two bench split with two back-rowers, Josh Bayliss and Jamie Ritchie, among the replacements. Jamie Dobie, like Grant Williams, will cover scrum-half and wing.

“It is the biggest challenge in world rugby right now,” explained Townsend of hosting South Africa. “We’re hosting the double world champions and they’re in fantastic form.

“They won the Rugby Championship. They’ve been able to play different teams and they’ve shown that their depth is so strong that they’ve been able to put out quality performances.

“When you think of a Springboks team, you think of physicality and we’ll obviously have to match that. It’s going to come in the ball carries, in defence and [at set piece], but there’s an extra dimension to this Springboks team.

“They are very innovative around their set-piece plays, they’re moving the ball wide at pace and they have some very talented and dynamic players. We expect it to be an open game and one that’ll test us in every minute.”